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Agriculture
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Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry
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Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2023) | Viewed by 7354

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Donglin Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: ornamental breeding; germplasm collection; propagation; molecular technology; tissue culture, edible landscape plants; tea

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Improved ornamentals hold promise for enabling a green agriculture industry. To better improve our ornamental plant market for our green industry, we should breed and select new and improved ornamental cultivars. Ornamental plant breeding and new cultivar selection is a conventional science. It is also very important to our daily life and mental health. To successfully introduce an elite ornamental plant, we not only provide new plant materials, but also regeneration and production methods for growers as well as plant care and maintenance for our gardeners. Outstanding ornamental plants in gardens and public landscapes can bring a better living conditions and enjoyment.

This Special Issue focuses on ornamental plant germplasm exploration and collection; breeding technology (especially molecular-aided breeding); new ornamental cultivars; propagation and production strategies (including media, irrigation, and nutrient management); as well as new ornamental plant trial and evaluation, utilization, and marketing. Research findings on edible landscape plants and other multi-functional ornamentals are welcome. Together, we can bring better ornamental plants for our green industry.

Prof. Dr. Donglin Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • breeding
  • cultivar
  • fertilization
  • garden
  • germplasm
  • irrigation
  • landscape
  • ornamental
  • production
  • propagation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 28721 KiB  
Article
Potential Geographical Distribution of Lagerstroemia excelsa under Climate Change
by Siwen Hao, Donglin Zhang and Yafeng Wen
Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020191 - 26 Jan 2024
Viewed by 582
Abstract
As a popular ornamental plant and an effective species for controlling rocky desertification, the identification and protection of potential habitats of Lagerstroemia excelsa habitats hold significant importance. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the natural resources and growing conditions for L. excelsa, predictive [...] Read more.
As a popular ornamental plant and an effective species for controlling rocky desertification, the identification and protection of potential habitats of Lagerstroemia excelsa habitats hold significant importance. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the natural resources and growing conditions for L. excelsa, predictive modeling was employed to estimate the potential geographical distribution of the species during the Mid-Holocene (MH), the present, and the years 2050 and 2070. The projection was based on current occurrences, and we selected the relevant environmental attributes through the Pearson analysis and the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt). The analysis revealed that temperature and precipitation are the primary environmental factors influencing L. excelsa distribution, with the Wuling Mountains identified as a center distribution hub for this species. The anticipated suitable area for L. excelsa is expected to experience marginal expansion under future climate scenarios. These results are invaluable for guiding the protection and sustainable utilization of L. excelsa in the face of climate change. Additionally, the data generated can be leveraged for enhanced introduction, breeding, selection, and cultivation of L. excelsa, taking into account the challenges posed by global warming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry)
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15 pages, 4772 KiB  
Article
Development of SSR Molecular Markers and Genetic Diversity Analysis of TPS Gene Family in Chimonanthus praecox
by Xuemei Fu, Nan Yang, Yongqin Du, Hafiz Muhammad Kamran, Huabo Wang, Shaoyuan Chen and Longqing Chen
Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040893 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1330
Abstract
Terpene synthase (TPS) plays a key role in the biosynthesis of terpenoids, which are the most important components of the volatile compounds of wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox). In this study, 52 CpTPS genes were found in wintersweet which were divided into 5 [...] Read more.
Terpene synthase (TPS) plays a key role in the biosynthesis of terpenoids, which are the most important components of the volatile compounds of wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox). In this study, 52 CpTPS genes were found in wintersweet which were divided into 5 subfamilies. We identified 146 SSRs in the CpTPS genes, and obtained 33 pairs of SSR primers with good polymorphism through amplification in 6 wintersweet samples. Then, these primers were amplified in 69 samples from China’s main wintersweet production areas. Through structural analysis, 69 samples were divided into 2 clusters, and were divided into 4 groups in a genetic cluster analysis, of which SH-33 and SW were separate groups. Through AMOVA analysis, it was found that the variation mainly occurred in the population, and that the gene flow between populations was Nm > 1, so it might lead to population differentiation. In other words, these findings provided useful information for the biosynthesis of terpenoids, the construction of a genetic linkage map, the detection of quantitative trait loci, marker-assisted selection and other aspects of wintersweet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry)
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15 pages, 1022 KiB  
Article
Different Responses to Adventitious Rhizogenesis under Indole-3-Butyric Acid and Seaweed Extracts in Ornamental’s Cuttings: First Results in Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’
by Danilo Loconsole, Anna Elisa Sdao, Giuseppe Cristiano and Barbara De Lucia
Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030513 - 21 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1732
Abstract
Fraser’s photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x fraseri Dress, Rosaceae family) is an important primary ornamental landscaping species with optimal hedge or screen effects and low maintenance, but it is difficult to root when propagated by cuttings, although high concentrations of phytohormones are used to [...] Read more.
Fraser’s photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x fraseri Dress, Rosaceae family) is an important primary ornamental landscaping species with optimal hedge or screen effects and low maintenance, but it is difficult to root when propagated by cuttings, although high concentrations of phytohormones are used to optimize rhizogenesis. To our knowledge, there is currently no feasible enhanced method for photinia vegetative propagation through stem cuttings, using seaweed extract-based biostimulants as root promoters. Given the economic importance of the species, this research aims to assess the effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and seaweed extract-based stimulators on the quality of photinia ‘Red Robin’ cuttings, in terms of rooting indicators and ground and aboveground agronomic features. The treatments applied were different concentrations of commercial rooting stimulators compared to an untreated control: C0: distilled water; Rhizopon AA: 1% IBA (R1); Kelpak®: 2 mL L−1 (K2); Kelpak®: 3 mL L−1 (K3); Goteo®: 2 mL L−1 (G2); Goteo®: 3 mL L−1 (G3). The first results showed different responses to adventitious rhizogenesis under IBA and both seaweed extract treatments. At 70 DAC (days after cutting), the seaweed extract stimulated the production of over 80% of cuttings with callus; at 240 DAC, the percentage of rooted cuttings treated under R1 was the highest = 34.3%; the worst results were obtained by both biostimulant treatments at the highest doses: K3 = 21.3% and G3 = 20.7%. Furthermore, R1 produced 3.07 roots per cutting, which was 50% higher than the average of all other treatments. The applications of Kelpak® and Goteo® biostimulants, at both concentrations, resulted in an inhibition of root length with values below the untreated control. Rooted cuttings under R1 showed the highest ground (0.35 g) and aboveground (0.47) dry value. Neither seaweed extract, Kelpak® or Goteo®, at different concentrations, improved both the ground and above-ground weights of rooted cutting, compared to the untreated control, indicating that these natural products are not suitable for Fraser’s photinia ‘Red Robin’ propagation using this methodology. The overall quality of cuttings in IBA treatment was the strongest, with 1%, being the optimum concentration. Further research must be conducted to propose effective agronomic protocols by investigating application methods, doses and number of applications, and to clarify the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of action of these seaweed extracts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry)
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17 pages, 3058 KiB  
Article
Strigolactone (GR24) Application Positively Regulates Photosynthetic Attributes, Stress-Related Metabolites and Antioxidant Enzymatic Activities of Ornamental Sunflower (Helianthus annuus cv. Vincent’s Choice) under Salinity Stress
by Muhammad Ahsan, Hira Zulfiqar, Muhammad Ansar Farooq, Sajjad Ali, Aasma Tufail, Shamsa Kanwal, Muhammad Rashid Shaheen, Mateen Sajid, Hera Gul, Aftab Jamal, Muhammad Farhan Saeed, Roberto Mancinelli and Emanuele Radicetti
Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010050 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1927
Abstract
Strigolactones, a new group of phytohormones, are reported to improve plant tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of synthetic strigolactone (GR24 at 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg L−1) application on ornamental sunflowers ( [...] Read more.
Strigolactones, a new group of phytohormones, are reported to improve plant tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of synthetic strigolactone (GR24 at 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg L−1) application on ornamental sunflowers (Helianthus annuus cv. Vincent’s Choice) grown under salt stress (150 mM NaCl). Salt stress was applied after 14 days, and SL was applied 25 days seed sowing. The results showed that amongst various GR24 concentrations, 0.01 mg L−1 proved to be superior, as it enhanced the photosynthetic rate (9.29%), transpiration rate (0.76%), stomatal conductance (77.5%), total soluble protein (0.55%) and K+ (14.63% in roots; 14.87% in shoots) and Ca2+ (12.63% in roots; 11.48% in shoots) contents under control conditions. Similarly, the leaf turgor potential (Ψp), osmotic potential (Ψs) and free proline, glycinebetaine (GB), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxide (POD) contents increased by 58.17, 89.95, 159.04, 101.54, 74.42, 175.68 and 53.62%, respectively, under salt stress conditions. The leaf water potential (Ψw) decreased (−0.14%) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased (16.65%) when treated with the 0.001 mg L−1 GR24 level. Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Na+ concentrations in roots and shoots increased by 62.53%, 74.66% and 38.55% under saline conditions with a GR24 level of 0 mg L−1. Regarding the plant biomass, a GR24 level of 0.01 mg L−1 with salt stress greatly decreased the root (−47.27% and −50.45%) and shoot (−44.79% and −59.42%) fresh and dry weights, respectively, compared to control conditions. These results reveal that exogenously applied GR24 might be an effective way to mitigate the perilous impacts of salt stress in ornamental sunflower production. It is suggested that the use of molecular techniques to study different processes in which GR24 could play a vital part in various commercial floricultural crops is extremely imperative and can open novel horizons for future investigations in this exhilarating field of plant hormones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry)
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12 pages, 10405 KiB  
Communication
Flowering Phenology of Selected Elepidote Rhododendron L. Taxa
by Paweł Maurycy Nowaczyk and Agnieszka Krzymińska-Bródka
Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010036 - 22 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1121
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the flowering phenology of selected 95 Elepidote Rhododendron taxa. The flowering period was assessed, distinguishing ten developmental stages. Flowering was observed every three days. The comparative scale prepared indicates the exact succession of bloom of taxa. Flowering of [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the flowering phenology of selected 95 Elepidote Rhododendron taxa. The flowering period was assessed, distinguishing ten developmental stages. Flowering was observed every three days. The comparative scale prepared indicates the exact succession of bloom of taxa. Flowering of 95 taxa lasted from the end of April to the second half of June. The flowering period of individual cultivars ranged from 2 to 9 weeks. The flowering time of cultivars belonging to the same species was mostly similar. The term of cultivars flowering was in the following tendency order: R. caucasicum–R. wardii–R. forestii–R. williamsianum–R. catawbiense–R. ponticum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Better Ornamental Plants for Our Green Industry)
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